On Stage!

The best of The new theatrical season in Florence

Open the curtain! The first signs of autumn will resonate throughout the great theaters of Florence, warming them up with a packed programme of concerts, shows and operas. Here is a selection of the most interesting of the new season, with an assortment of both classic and international pieces.

MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO
Emotional and timeless masterpieces at the Florence opera house, the highlights of the 2019-2020 opera and ballet season include Fernard Cortez by Gaspare Spontini, opening the curtain on October 12, 16, 20 and 23 with the maestro Fabio Luisi on the podium, and Cecilia Ligorio as director. Giacomo Puccini makes a grand return with the triptych Il Tabarro/Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi (November 15, 17, 20 and 23) with the maestro Valerio Galli and Denis Krief as director. Verdi’s Rigoletto will follow, directed by Renato Palumbo on November 16, 19, 22, 24 and 26. There will also be dance with the new choreographic production by the Compagnia Nuovo Balletto di Toscana (December 15, 18, 20, 28 and January 2 and 4). Shen Yun is the Chinese dance performance that will animate the stage during the Christmas period (December 27, 28, 29 and 30). Rinaldo di Händel will follow (March 22, 26, 28, April 1 and 3), directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi with maestro Federico Maria Sardelli conducting. There will be four works in the repertoire: Carmen (October 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 22 and 25), Rigoletto (November 16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26 and 27), La Bohème (December 14, 17, 19, 21 and 29, January 3 and 5) and La Traviata (February 22, 25 and 27; March 1, 3, 5, 27, 29 and 31 and April 2).

TEATRO DELLA PERGOLA
An international wind is blowing on the Pergola stage. Isabelle Huppert opens the season with Mary Said What She Said, directed by Bob Wilson, inspired by the biography of Maria Stuarda; running from October 11 to 13. The 2019/2020 season brings a big hit with thirteen productions and nine national premiers. Gabriele Lavia directs and interprets the giants of Pirandello’s I giganti della montagna (from October 24 to November 3). Don’t miss the latest work by Maurizio Scaparro, Memorie di Adriano (from November 5 to 10). Then it is Silvio Orlando’s turn on stage with Si nota all’imbrunire (November 12-24) with and by Lucia Calamaro. Shakespeare’s The Tempest is a large production by the Teatro Biondo di Palermo, directed by Roberto Andò and Renato Carpentieri; running December 3 to 8. At the height of the Christmas festivities, Andò will direct Ditegli sempre di sì by De Filippo (December 27 to January 5), while Valerio Binasco directs Natalino Balasso in The Servant of Two Masters by Goldoni (January 21 to 26). Finally, Ferzan Özpetek, brings “his” Loose Cannons to the stage from March 31 to April 5. 

TEATRO PUCCINI
The season opens with an all-female production of Ho perso il filo with Angela Finocchiaro (October 31 and November 1). Massimo Popolizio is behind Furore, based on Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath (December 13 and 14). There will be laughter and poetry in Supermarket, a non-musical made up of nine actors and a musical performance of original songs (January 17 and 18). Rocco Papaleo is also on the programme with Coast to Coast (March 6 and 7), and the world of women is recounted by Lella Costa in Se non posso ballare... from Serena Dandini’s Catalogo delle donne valorose (March 27 and 28).

TEATRO VERDI
This theater in the historic Santa Croce neighborhood is now in its 22nd season. The curtain opens with Burattino senza fili directed by Maurizio Columbani, with the soundtrack by Edoardo Bennato (from October 31 to November 3). Primi ballerini, soloists and a dance troupe from Rome City Ballet Company bring Cinderella to life (November 15). Hands up those who do not remember the famous Full Monty film: Luca Ward and Paolo Conticini adapt the film for the stage under the direction of Massimo Romeo Piparo (December 4 to 8). On December 19, the stage is set for Christian De Sica and Christian racconta. The theater will again host a music, a tried and tested recipe at the Verdi: Balliamo sul mondo, the musical by Luciano Ligabue and Chiara Noschese, focuses on the discography of the rocker Correggio (December 21 and 22). The first show of the spring will be a comedy show by Massimo Lopez and Tullio Solenghi (March 12).